From a fifth place at the Olympic Distance of the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) in Leeds, to a big win at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in St. George, to an extremely short Super League Triathlon event in Malibu. Lucy Charles has been all over the place this year, and her season still hasn’t yet come to an end. She will finish the 2021 season, that didn’t lack variety, with a debut at the Sprint Distance at WTCS Abu Dhabi (Nov. 6, 2021).
“The off-season hasn’t started yet, as I am going to race in Abu Dhabi in ten days’ time; it’s a Sprint-Distance triathlon – a WTCS race – so there are big points up for grabs, and it’s obviously another learning experience for me,” Charles said in her latest YouTube video. With these “points” she refers to the Olympic qualification period that she has entered. The queen of long-distance racing has expressed her interest in Paris 2024. “I’ve gone from doing the Olympic Distance in Leeds to the Super Sprint Short Distance at Super League Triathlon, and this is going to fall right in the middle,” she said of WTCS Abu Dhabi.
“It’s another new event for me. I have never raced a Sprint Distance before, so I’m looking forward to it. I have been trying to hone some of my skills – trying to scrub up on those transitions – and hopefully in Abu Dhabi I am going to show some improvements from Super League Triathlon.”
Charles won’t need to worry about her swimming – it is hardly news that she’s a strong swimmer in triathlon – but she showed again during the Essex County Championships this month that she remains a competitive swimmer. Charles noted some impressive times in a variety of disciplines: 4:59 minutes for the 400 meters individual medley, 31.6 seconds for 50 meters backstroke, 2:05 for 200 meter freestyle and 1:22 for 100 meter breaststroke.
